As remote working becomes ingrained in our daily lives, businesses and employees alike are realising that nearly every business and the operational transaction can be done virtually. With studies revealing a 173% increase in remote workers since 2005, it further solidifies the fact that remote working is here to stay. Thus for businesses to grow and expand, they need to be able to hire and train remote employees. The greatest challenge confronting employers about remote work is not the transition of business processes and operations onto cloud-based and other virtual systems, but rather, how to train existing and new employees to ensure that they are able to understand and make use of these functions.
Here are some tips and tools for remote training:
Choose the right Learning Management System (LMS)
Learning Management Systems was originally utilised by academic institutions. It is essentially a “software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, and delivery of educational courses, training programs, or learning and development programs”. It is a single platform that can be used to access all training material such as lessons, assessments and progress tracking. These systems can be quite costly thus employers should make sure they choose an LMS that has all the features they require. Businesses with remote employees should utilise a Cloud LMS to ensure that training is accessible to all employees regardless of their location.
Make it accessible on all devices
Considering the fact that every person has their own learning style it could be beneficial for businesses to allow employees to learn on the go using different devices. In doing so, employees can learn at their own pace from their mobile phones or tablets. Additionally, it will allow for training continuity if load shedding occurs.
Use video conferencing applications
A streamlined LMS is an effective way to train employees. However, during lengthy training sessions, it might be useful to arrange video meetings to gauge the progress of employees and to resolve any misunderstandings that may have occurred during the training. Making use of Zoom to conduct these meetings may be useful as employers can record the meetings for future reference.
Utilise project management tools
Project management tools such as Trello and Asana can be used to assign tasks and track the progress of training and assessments. It can also be used for collaborating with other trainees during group training sessions.
Keep communication open
Training remotely can leave employees feeling isolated and could cause uncertainty if/when technicalities arise. Create a Whatsapp group for employees to communicate any uncertainties or technical issues. It can also be used to send hints, tips or just general motivational quotes to boost morale.
Request feedback
Asking for feedback is important as it gives employers insight into where improvements can be made to training material. Feedback can furthermore be used to track progress or differences between one or more training programmes.
Implementing training initiatives not only helps employees expand their skills and knowledge, but it also allows businesses to ascertain which skills need to be improved and which still need to be developed. These programmes serve as a gauge for organisations to track the performance of employees and to ascertain their strengths and weaknesses.
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